Paul Harris and I had a great visit to the Eastern Lancaster County Club where we each got cool Rotary Rocks shirts, hot from the recent fundraiser by their own inhouse musical group for the benefit of the local Fire Company, a natural recipient from many of our clubs, as volunteer organizations find ways to support each other. 

 

Down the road in Paradise, it was spellbinding to hear from RYLA participants who told of great happenings last June during another highly effective annual youth session generously supported by our clubs.  The students even discussed creating an app to enable all 80 plus of them to continue the relationships established at RYLA.

 

In Palmyra, the annual community flag placing operation was planned along with the projection that there could be as many as four peace poles emerging from that part of the District.  For Veterans’ Day we returned to Mt. Joy to partake of a meaningful annual veterans breakfast, thanks to that Club’s patriotic support.

 

 

The Foundation Dinner provided a monumental setting as the paths of Abe Lincoln and Paul Harris crossed at 1 Lincoln Square--two sympatico souls seeking a better world, leaving legacies of hope and inspiration, each in their own way.   With DGE Mary Brunski brilliantly presiding, the Dinner recognized grand achievements by Clubs as the generosity of Rotarians continues to reach unimagined heights.  In brief remarks, the visiting RI rep, Celeste Herbert, illustrated the essential role of the Foundation in allowing Rotary to fulfill its many critical goals.  PDG Juliet Altenburg then showed a professional video summing up Clubs’ projects for the past year.  Foundation chair, Kathleen Stoup, then completed the cycle by describing the many remarkable goals of this year and beyond.

 

 

Two of those 100% participation recognition banners were already on display at the Northern Lebanon County Club as it provided reports of community projects, new and completed. That was followed by a visit to the Lebanon Club, which is connected to the community through four local schools, one of which just created a dynamic Interact Club.

 

The week closed with another of those PDG Alden Cunningham inspired, multi-club hosted, Rotary Means Business events, demonstrating why Rotary first got started and how it continues to provide the setting for good business and community relationships.  

 

Time now to think about the next great District gathering, the Multi-District Conference in April!

 

In Rotary,

Paul Thompson